“That’s something, I suppose,” Mitchell said in her usual self-deprecating manner.
“There’s one other thing I have to tell you,” Bolan said.
“What?”
“I had a serious talk with your father today.”
Mitchell stared at him, unsure what he was saying.
“My God, you didn’t ask if you could marry me?”
“You make it sound the worst thing that could happen.”
“I didn’t mean it like... Cooper, what are you talking about?”
“I said I was responsible for what happened to you.”
“Dammit, Cooper, why did you say that? He’ll think I’m not safe out on my own now.”
“You should give him more credit, Sarah.”
“What about you, Cooper? What do you give me?”
Bolan leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. He slid something from inside his jacket.
“Mitchell, you’re a trained FBI agent.” He walked back to the door. “Go figure it out....”
When he had gone, Mitchell saw the thick envelope lying on her bed. She drew it close, fingers tracing the shape inside. She started to smile then laughed as she recognized the outline of her Glock pistol.
* * *
“I BELIEVE WE can keep a fairly tight lid on this,” Brognola told the President.
“I’ve heard a few rumblings,” the President said. “Nothing confirmed and no one is making much of them. So give me the rest of the story.”
“There was trouble in Moscow when Hegre and Striker clashed. The trail led him and Agent Mitchell to Kazakhstan where the stolen uranium was in the hands of Hegre and the Iranians. Striker got to them before they were able to ship the cargo off to Iran.”
“And it was in Aktau that Agent Mitchell was injured?”
“Yes, sir. She and Striker were compromised. From what Striker told me, the shooting was done out of hand, ordered by Lise Delaware against an unarmed target.”
“Thank God Mitchell survived.”
“When matters were settled in Aktau, Striker returned to the U.S. and made his final move against Hegre. My people had located Hegre bases and with the loss of their deal with the Iranians, the Hegre top people went to hide in a bolt-hole in the Northwest. Pretty isolated place.” Brognola paused. “The next part of Striker’s mission was a personal strike against Hegre.”
“Don’t spare my feelings, Hal. I understand Striker’s way of handling certain, shall we say, operations. I may not be a fan of his methods, but I see his motivation. He has a strong sense of justice and a unique way of administering it. In truth, Hal, haven’t I given the go-ahead to dark ops? Sent our people out to administer what we believe is best for America? Striker does his own cutting out of the deadwood. Removing those who are doing their best to rip our society apart.”
“He would be pleased to hear those sentiments.”
“Well, keep them to yourself. I wouldn’t want what we discuss here to end up on the news.”
“The same goes for local law enforcement,” Brognola said. “I’ve been talking to the law up in Bellingham. They aren’t having a good time with what happened. SAC Duncan has an FBI team there after I suggested the local sheriff might need help. The FBI will move in and smooth things over. Sidelining the Bellingham cops will keep the matter out of the spotlight.”
“Let’s pray it does.”
“Iran hasn’t mentioned anything about the uranium,” Brognola said. “Ayatollah Fikri wouldn’t want his back-door deals being made public. He’s been made to look foolish enough with his big plan going belly up.”
“The problem there, Hal, is it will make him even more determined to succeed. Fikri will try again.”
“Then we need to keep an even closer eye on him, sir. Mossad will be relieved the uranium was destroyed. They will increase their surveillance and harden their stance against Iran.”
The President said, “And so it goes on. Threat and counterthreat. Secrecy and back-door deals. It doesn’t seem there’s an end to it all, Hal.”
Brognola said, “Maybe one day, sir. When we all make the choice to sit down and admit what a bunch of idiots we all are.”
“That’s not going to happen soon, though, is it, as much as I would like to see that happen. So in the meantime we stand with our backs to the wall and keep the wolves at bay.”
“Or send out our own wolf to deal with our enemies. Let him off the official leash for a while?”
The President smiled.
“Are you making a plea for Striker? There is no need, Hal. I admire what that man does for his country. The shame is he has to do it all under a cloak of secrecy, forced to cover his tracks because if he was exposed it would all be over. He’s a shadow man, Hal, who deserves to be honored but never will be.”
“Striker wouldn’t want to be put under the spotlight. He does what he does because he has to. It’s not for personal gain. It’s for what he considers true justice. His war is against those who turn their backs on civilized society for personal gain.”
“Let’s hope he continues to think that way. If he put aside his arms and called it a day...”
The President didn’t want to think that might happen.
It was one man.
One man who had put his personal life on hold because he felt the need to carry his War Everlasting on his shoulders. Who asked nothing for himself.
Striker is one hell of a man, the President thought.
One hell of an American.
* * *
BOLAN WAS IN his quarters at Stony Man, on the phone to Valentine Seminov.
“My friend, it is good to hear that Sarah Mitchell is recovering. Will she be able to return to her work? I do not feel she would be very happy if that was not possible.”
“It’ll take time. She isn’t going to sit back and do nothing.”
“I will tell young Nikolai. It will, as you say, make his day.”
“Is Arkady resting peacefully?”
“His body lies in the village where he was born. It seemed only fitting.”
“So we all have ended up where we should be.”
“You also, Cooper?”
“I’m back home. ”
“Nikolai sends his regards.”
“Thank him for me.”
“Always remember that you have friends here in Moscow. Come visit us one day—but leave your gun at home.”
The Russian’s booming laughter echoed from the phone as he signed off.
Bolan heard the door open behind him. He knew who it was before he turned.
“You do realize we have hardly spoken since you got back,” Barbara Price said. “I suppose you’ll tell me you’ve had things to do.”
“Would I lie?”
“You don’t look busy right now.”
Price stood just inside the room. She pushed the door shut with the toe of her boot.
“Remember that move you used the last time we spent time together?” she said.
“Only just.”
“Soldier, I’m here on a refresher course, so don’t you even think about ducking out on me.”
Bolan saw he had been outflanked. He stood his ground and followed orders.
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460340929
Special thanks and acknowledgment to Mike Linaker for his contribution to this work.
Chain Reaction
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